June employment up for month and for year

U.S. Class I railroads employed 163,159 workers in mid-June, up 0.38% from May and 2.40% from June 2011.

Transportation-train and engine employment rose to 65,606 in June, an increase of 0.79% from May and 2.33% from a year ago.

Maintenance-of-way employment, at 37,529 in June, was off 0.11% from May but up 2.70% from June 2011.

Maintenance-of-equipment-and-stores departments had 29,751 employees in June, down 0.52% from May 2011 but 2.15% higher than in June 2011.

The biggest year-over-year percentage increase was in the number of executives, officials, and staff assistants, which rose to 9,661, to 3.54% over the June 2011 level and 0.77% higher than May.

In other categories, transportation (other than train and engine) employment was 6,842 in June, down 0.16% from May and up 2.59% from June; and in professional and administrative, where the numbers increased to 14,040, up 1.67% from May and 1.56% from June 2011.